“She’s awake. Have you decided what we’re gonna do?” Cody’s dad said.
“Yes. We need to go back into town in two vehicles.” Cody held up Ruby’s keys and phone. “I’ll sort it.”
“I can’t go out. There’s Kyle to think about and not to mention...”
“It’s just a car-ride, Dad. You won’t have to do anything else, I promise, and you’ll be back before you know it.”
“But what will you do? Once she’s reported missing your name will be given to the police.”
“I’ll go to Jed’s bar and make sure I’m seen by everyone. Then I’ll go back to my flat—there’s always a load of people there on Friday night, so at least I’ll have an alibi.”
“Don’t come back here until it’s sorted. The last thing we need is for the police to follow you.”
“What do you think I am? An idiot? Course I won’t lead anyone back here, but you’ve got to promise you won’t touch her till I get back. Swear to me, Dad. Not one finger, you hear me?”
“Loud and clear.”
“And do you swear? She’s mine first. I found her—them’s the rules.”
“Right! Stop fucking moaning.”
Cody gripped the back of his dad’s t-shirt and yanked him backwards, pushing his arm into the older man’s throat. “I’m serious,” he snarled.
His dad gulped and pushed at Cody’s arm. “Alright, son. Knock it off.”
Cody released him. “Anyway, you still didn’t tell me what you think of her?”
His dad nodded, brushing himself down. “Aye—you done good, son.”
“She’s perfect,” Cody said, rubbing at his crotch. He had a good mind to go in there now and give her what for—but he couldn’t—the first time had to be slow, so he could savour every second. No, he’d waited this long, another couple of days wouldn’t make any difference. “Get Kyle to keep an eye on her while we’re gone—I’ll check she’s properly tied—we don’t want her to escape like the last one.”
His father went inside the house and Cody into the garage.
Ruby twisted her whole body as he entered—her eyes were like those of a wild animal caught in a trap.
“Cody, help me. What’s happening?”
“Ah, calm yourself, Ruby. Everything’s going to be all right, but you must trust me. You do trust me, don’t you, babe?”
Ruby nodded, although her stricken, terrified eyes told a different story.
“What’s going on? Why am I tied up? Please, Cody, let me go.”
“No-can-do, sorry, babe. I’ve got to go away for a little while.”
“No!” she shrieked.
“Shhhh.” Cody sat on the edge of the bed and stroked her silky, brown hair. “I need you to calm down for me. Dad and Kyle will be here to look after you. When I get back, I promise things will be hunky-dory.”
Ruby’s whimpers were beginning to irritate the hell out of him, but he needed to keep his cool. He didn’t want to spoil that pretty little face before he got some use out of her. He bent and kissed her forehead.
“Now, don’t forget. Best behaviour until I get back.”
Ruby stiffened and yanked her arms and legs as she cried. Her pleading eyes never left his face and her screams followed him out the door.
Cody found his dad and Kyle in the kitchen. “Have you told him?” he asked his dad.
“Yes-he-told-me,” Kyle said. His every word was an effort, as usual.
“Don’t go in there, unless there’s an emergency. Dad will be back soon. I need you to be in charge—look after her till I get back and I’ll buy you a new fire truck.”
“Bingo,” Kyle said, holding both thumbs up.
“Good boy.” He ruffled Kyle’s hair before leaving.
Although only two years younger than Cody, Kyle had the mental age of a six-year-old. They sometimes left him alone for a short time, but not often. He needed a lot of looking after, one of the reasons their dad gave up work to care for him full-time after their mum vanished.
Kyle had seemed normal for the first year of his life, but when he still couldn’t roll over or sit up unaided by his first birthday, the first warning bells sounded. Not that Cody could remember it, but he’d heard the story over and over.
Tests were done, but they had no explanation. They eventually diagnosed Kyle with an intellectual disability, or mentally retarded as they called it back then.
Kyle took his first step at two and a half years old, developing slowly. When he was eighteen, they were told his mental age wouldn’t develop any further, and it hadn’t. But they wouldn’t change him for the world.
Kyle had been a source of delight for Cody and their dad—always happy and playing pranks, although Kyle’s obsession with fire trucks drove him to distraction.
Cody glanced in his rear-view mirror as he pulled over outside a row of shops at the end of Ruby’s street, and climbed over to the passenger seat.
His dad parked his own car and then jumped in behind the wheel of Cody’s.
“Right, where to?”
“It’s down here on the left. I need you to wait until I get inside and switch on the light—then give several belts on the horn as you drive away.”
“Got it,” his dad said, before driving off.
Moments later, they pulled up outside Ruby’s house. Cody turned off the interior lights, not wanting anybody to see him when he opened the door.
“Right, remember, park my car back up and leave the keys in the usual place.”
His dad nodded. “Gotcha.”
“I’m trusting you, Dad. Leave Ruby alone until I get back.”
“I already said so, didn’t I?”
“Right then—wait till I’m inside and the light goes on.”
“Get on with it,” his dad hissed.
Cody took Ruby’s keys from his jacket pocket and picked her shoes up from the foot-well. Then, with a final bracing breath, he got out of the car.
Thanks to the late hour, the street was deserted. Cody opened the door and rushed inside slamming it behind him. Fumbling for a light switch, he was alarmed by something around his ankles. He tripped and fell to the carpet, landing on what he presumed was a cat until it yelped and began to snarl. A high-pitched grrrrrrrrr turned into continual yapping. He needed to deal with it, but first he had to find a light.
Back on his feet, Cody located a light switch.
The little brown dog bared his teeth at Cody, just as a series of car horns sounded from outside.
Cody raced to the front window, peeking out. Sure enough—the curtain across the street twitched.
Pleased things were going according to plan he turned away from the window.
“Now all I need to do is shut this fucking dog up.”